There was no happy homecoming for former Braintree players Bertie Brayley and Adam Gillespie when their new employers from the other side of the A12 were soundly beaten by Iron's third three-goal haul in four games.

Neither Brayley, who departed in somewhat acrimonious circumstances earlier this season, nor Gillespie, who was on Iron's books briefly two seasons ago, made any impact on a match in which the home side's domination gradually grew after a shaky start.

Nor was it a good match for Swifts' goalkeeper Darren Placid, who looked decidedly unsteady on a number of occasions and gifted Braintree their second goal, or central defender John Pollard, sent-off after elbowing Mark Graham in the face off the ball.

It was a good match for Alex Revell who goes from strength to strength in the front line and grabbed two goals, one a tap-in, the other a scorcher.

It was also a good match but then it usually is for captain Ollie Adedeji whose command at the back bordered on the majestic, with two tackles in quick succession in the second half reminiscent of Bobby Moore. There can be no higher praise.

But it was not all plain sailing. Braintree never really got going in the first half, discomforted by the legitimate aggression of the visitors who did not let them settle into any kind of a rhythm.

And it could have been even worse if the referee had spotted Mark Jones apparently kicking out at Swifts' Ergun Artun after he had tangled with keeper Danny Gay.

The score was 0-0 at the time and remained so until a minute after the break when Louis Riddle sent a free-kick beyond the far post where Louie Evans headed it back and Revell nipped in front of everyone to put it in the net.

The goal galvanised Braintree and it was little surprise when they added a second goal 15 minutes later. Referee John Magill invoked the advantage rule after Bradley Quinton had been rudely upended because Riddle was by then setting off menacingly towards the goal.

His eventual shot, while on target, had rather less menace but Placid failed to hold it and it dropped to Evans who happily planted it in the net.

The third goal was a classic from the hosts.

Jones lined up a free-kick and with everyone waiting for a cross, he slipped it short to Quinton.

The Iron midfielder fed it through to Revell who took it on a couple of strides before driving home an outstanding shot from the corner of the penalty box.

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Published Tuesday, December 28, 2004

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